The exercise will be conducted in the Gulf and will go through Dec. 18.

During that time, CTF-52 will be continuing to improve skills in a mix of manned and unmanned MCM systems, like SeaFox, MK 18 underwater unmanned vehicle (UUV) and other emerging MCM technologies. Bilateral exercises improve the teamwork between the U.S. and its partners, bolstering an already strong MCM presence in the region.

CTF-52 is the commander of mine warfare forces in the region. They conducted nine exercises last year, eight of which were alongside their Royal Navy counterparts.

The U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) area of responsibility encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, Red Sea, and the Arabian Sea. This expanse includes three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and the Strait of Bab al Mandeb at the southern tip of Yemen.

The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the United States Department of Defense, or the United States Department of the Navy of the linked web sites, or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities such as military exchanges and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) sites, the United States Department of Defense, the Department of the Navy does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. Such links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this DoD web site.